Holiday Spirit Not Stifled by Economy

A new survey shows that the majority of Americans still hold strong to the holiday spirit.

90 percent of 1,762 adults polled in the survey said that there is more to the holidays than gifts and meals and that family and faith are what these times are really about.

It can’t be ignored that many Americans are going through very hard times as businesses have begun to suffer under the economic crisis. More than half of those surveyed know someone who lost their job in the past 6 months.

Yet just as the Grinch in Dr. Seuss’ famous children’s book failed to thwart the holiday spirit by stealing the gifts from a small town, many Americans are seeing beyond the idea that money and gifts are the heart of holiday happiness. A total of 78 percent said that the harsh economic times have reminded them of what is really important.

The large majority also agrees that this time of hardship may actually help people to come closer together. A total of 73 percent believe that America will be stronger than before once the economic crisis is solved.

Still, many adults said that they will not let the financial situation affect their holidays at all. 46 percent say that they will be spending the same amount on gifts as last year, while another 9 percent said that they even plan to spend more.

Children will also still make out well. Only 22 percent of adults said that they would have to give fewer gifts this year to their kids (family friends may get a little less, however, as stated by 37 percent of respondents).

The survey was conducted on Dec. 9th and 10th by Socratic Technologies, a marketing research agency that regularly conducts global web-based surveys. Its findings were released on Dec. 23 by Dollar Savvy magazine, one of the survey’s sponsors.

“Despite economic hard times, Americans continue to have a deep, heartfelt connection with the holiday season,” said Neil Wertheimer, editor-in-chief of Dollar Savvy and getdollarsavvy.com in a press statement.

“While they believe that the gifts will be fewer this year, and the meals a little less extravagant, the joys of the holidays will be every bit as great, if not greater, than in years past.”